Motor-driven single axle agricultural machine

ABSTRACT

A motor-driven single axle machine for use in agriculture, horticulture, forrestry and for like purposes, the frame of which comprises a worm gear casing having identical gear coupling and casing connection means at each end and being guided and/or pushed by a user and capable of composing the machine frame for different uses from a kit of coordinated gear casings of different shapes and gear equipment. The user is thus able to combine from these gear casings more than one particular machine and thus to undertake a number of different tasks by assembling different machines, adapted to those tasks, from the kit of gear casings.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Otto Gohler Mockmuhl, Wurttemberg, Germany [21] Appl. No. 854,490 [22} Filed Sept. 2, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 7, 1971 [73] Assignee Agria-Werke, GmbH Mockmuhl, Germany [32] Priority Sept. 5, 1968 {33] Germany [3 1 G 67 50 591 [54] MOTOR-DRIVEN SINGLE AXLE AGRICULTURAL MACHINE 9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 74/16, 56/169, 74/606, 172/108 [51] Int. Cl Fl6h 57/02 [50] Field ofSearch ..74/11, 15.6, 16, 606; 172/108; 56/167, 16.9

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,667,729 5/1928 Fleming 74/16 UX 2,473,883 6/1949 Harvey 74/16 Primary Examiner-Manuel A. Antonakas Att0rneyBrown, Critchlow, Flick & Peckham ABSTRACT: A motor-driven single axle machine for use in agriculture, horticulture, forrestry and for like purposes, the frame of which comprises a worm gear casing having identical gear coupling and casing connection means at each end and being guided and/or pushed by a user and capable of composing the machine frame for different uses from a kit of coordinated gear casings of different shapes and gear equipment. The user is thus able to combine from these gear casings more than one particular machine and thus to undertake a number of different tasks by assembling different machines, adapted to those tasks, from the kit of gear casings.

PATENIEDSEP (\SH 3.603.162

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sum n W 4 ma'm MOTOR-DRIVEN SINGLE AXLE AGRICULTURAL MACHINE The invention relates to a motor-driven single axle machine, especially for use in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and has as its object to provide an improvement therein.

In known machines of this type which are guided by rearwardly projecting handles and are used to pull and/or drive implements connected to the frame of the machine, the latter sometimes comprises or is formed by a worm gear housing, the worm gear of which is driven directly or through a drive transmitting means by the motor. The output shaft of such a worm gear is used to drive a work appliance and/or propel the machine.

It is the main object of the invention to construct machines of this type in such manner that their frame can be varied in shape, appearance and gear equipment in simple manner and in substantially higher degree than hitherto for adaptation of the shape and construction of the machine and of the gear transmission between the motor and gear output shaft in such manner that for all different types of work to be effected by the machine and its different tool components an easy guiding and directional steering of the machine and a favorable position of its center of gravity can be obtained while restricting the gear-switching elements to those which are needed by the individual tool components of the machine.

For the realization of this main object, the main feature of the invention provides as a machine frame or part of the latter a worm gear housing of special type which is provided at both ends with entirely identical gear coupling and housing connection means whereby either end of the worm gear housing can be connected either directly or indirectly by an additional intermediate gear housing to the motor.

Preferably said worm gear housing of said special type has coordinated thereto a known right angle gear casing which can be connected by each of its ends to each of the ends of the worm gear casing and preferably also to the motor. Beyond this right angle gear casing further additional partial gear casings with fitting coupling and connection ends are coordinated to said special worm gear casing, at least one further or second right angle gear casing by means which the worm gear casing can be arranged between two right angle gear casings which, moreover, may be provided with different gear transmissions and with a known reverse gear.

According to a further feature of the invention the special worm gear casing is to be provided at its end remote from its worm wheel with a vertical circular attachment projection provided with a lateral toothed rim fitting to an identical laterally toothed coupling rim of the machine guide handle bar allowing an easy adjustment and adaptation of the height of the handles over ground to the different heights of the worm gear casing in the machine frame.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a kit of parts from which different types of agricultural of like machines can be composed,

FIG. 2 is a side view of a rotary tiller,

FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative type of rotary tiller,

FIG. 4 is a side view of a motorized plough,

FIG. 5 is a side view of a mowing machine,

FIG. 6 is a side view of a manually propelled rotary mowing machine,

FIG. 7 is a side view of a motorized rotary mowing machine, and

FIG. 8 is a side view of a sweeping machine.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, the kit of parts comprises a motor 1 having a gear attachment flange 2, a handle bar 3 having two laterally spaced handgrips 4 of which only one is visible, and a laterally toothed, vertical connecting ring 5, a mounting shackle 6 having a similar toothed connecting ring 7, and a series of interengageable powertransmitting gear boxes and shafts. The series of gearboxes and shafts comprises a right-angle gear casing 8 containing a bevel gear assembly having a ratio of lzl, a second right angle gear casing containing a bevel gear assembly 9 having a ratio of l:3,7, which may be constructed as a reversing gear, a worm gear casing 10 comprising a worm gear with a ratio of 1:23 having the worm gear provided with a transverse output shaft II at one end and a toothed connecting ring 12 at the other, a straight gear casing 13 comprising coaxial input and output shafts, and a further straight gear casing 14 having a laterally provided toothed connecting ring 15. The motor and all the gearboxes are provided with identical fitting connection ends and their shafts with interengageable connections in the form of plugs and sockets which prevent rotary movement relative to one another at any connection.

FIG. 2 shows a self-propelling motorized rotary tiller the frame of which is composed by the motor 1 and the vertically arranged worm gear casing 10, said worm gear casing having its output shaft working as the tool driving shaft 16 at its lower end and with the casing hump projecting towards the rear of the machine. A rotary tiller tool 17 is secured on the output shaft 16. The lower end of the worm gear is covered by a cap 21. The toothed connecting ring 12 of the worm gear casing secures the rcarwardly projecting handle bar 3 on the one side and the mounting shackle 6 on the other side to the machine. A carrier arm 20, which holds a spur 19 at its lower end, is connected to the shackle by its upper end. A guard 18 protects the operator against soil and stones thrown up by the rotating tool 17 when the machine is being used. When used, the tool 17 rotates with its lower part in the earth and produces forward movement. The machine is guided by the operator who holds the handlebar 3 and allows the spur 19 to drag along in the earth.

For an alternative type of rotary tiller, as shown in FIG. 3, the machine frame is composed by the motor I, right-angle gear casing 8 and horizontally positioned worm gear casing 10. The front end of the worm gear casing is closed by the cap 21 and the tool-driving shaft 16 extends beneath and towards the front of the worm gear casing and has the rotary tool 17 mounted thereon. The toothed connecting ring 12 of casing 10 secures the rcarwardly projecting handle bar 3 and also a rear support wheel 22 and the braking spur 19 to the machine. A guard 18 shields the rotary tool 17 rearwards. In use the tool 17 rotates in the earth and produces forward movement of the machine. The user in this case holds the handlebar 3 to guide the machine and is aided in supporting the machine by the support wheel 22.

FIG. 4 shows a motorized plough in which the machine frame is composed by the same elements, namely motor 1, right angle gear casing 9 and worm gear 10. However, the driving shaft 16 of the horizontally positioned worm gear casing is here on the topside of the worm gear and at the rear of the machine and has driving wheels 23 which, of course, are mounted thereon on both sides of the worm gear. The rearwardly projecting handle bar 3 and a similarly projecting spacer member 24 are secured to the machine by the toothed connecting ring 12. The shackle 6, attached to the rear end of the spacer member 24 secures a drawbar 25 to the machine, said drawbar having a plough blade 26 attached thereto. In use, the operator guides the machine by means of the handle bar 3 and as the drive wheels 23 cause the machine to move forward, the plough blade gouges into the earth.

FIG. 5 shows a mowing machine the frame of which comprises also the motor 1, the right angle gear casing 9 and the worm gear casing 10. The latter, however, is reversed in its horizontal position with regard to FIG. 4, having the output shaft 16 on the topside of the rear end of the worm gear casing and carrying again the drive wheels 23. A cutter beam 27 is coupled with the front end of worm gear casing 10. The rearwardly projecting handlebar 3 is secured to the machine by the toothed connecting ring 12. In use the machine being guided by the operator, moves forward self-propelling with the cutter 27 against the surface to be mowed.

FIG. 6 shows a manually propelledrotary mowing machine the frame of which is composed by the motor 1 and the vertically arranged straight gear casing 14 of H6. 1 positioned on top of a horizontal cutter box 29 provided with support rollers 28 and housing a horizontally rotating cutter blade. The handle bar 3, projecting rearwardly from the machine, is secured by the toothed connecting ring 15 of the straight gear casing 14. To operate this machine, the operator simply pushes and guides it in front of him.

In an alternative type of rotary mowing machine, as shown in FIG. 7, the machine frame is formed by the motor 1, right angle gear casing 9, horizontally positioned worm gear casing and the further gear casings l3, 8 and 14 of FIG. 1. The output shaft 16 extends here on the underside of the worm gear casing 10 and has the drive wheels 23 mounted thereon. The shaft of straight gear casing 14 is coupled to the vertical drive shaft of the horizontal cutter box 29. in use the operator simply guides the machine by the handle bar 3 since it propels itself forward.

FIG. 8 shows a sweeping machine the main part of the frame of which comprises the motor 1, right angle gear casing 9, horizontally positioned worm gear casing 10, and second right angle gear casing 8. The worm gear casing 10 has its output shaft 16 on the topside and at its forward end and has the drive wheels 23 mounted thereon. The rearwardly projecting handle bar 3 is secured to the machine by the toothed connecting ring 12. The second right-angle gear casing 8 connected to the forward end of the worm gear casing 10 transmits drive to the drive stub 30 of an. auxiliary frame 31. This auxiliary frame carries a brush 34, shielded by a guard 33 and driven by a horizontal chain drive 32 from the drive stub 30. With this particular composition of the machine frame the weight of the motor 1 and sweeping brush 34 with their coordinated elements balance each other and the operator needs only to guide the machine by means of the handlebar 3.

Various other machines besides those described herein are able to be composed from the kit of gear casings without going beyond the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A motor-driven agricultural machine for use with implements used in agriculture and horticulture and forestry, the machine comprising an elongated casing forming the supporting frame of the machine, a rotatable shaft in the casing extending lengthwise thereof and having identical shaft coupling means at opposite ends of the casing, a worm in the casing secured to said shaft near one .end of the casing, a single horizontal axle journaled in the sides of the casing beside the worm and projecting laterally from the casing, ground-engaging means mounted on said axle, a worm gear secured to said axle and driven by the worm, a motor provided with an upright motor shaft, means detachably coupling the motor with one end of said worm gear casing to support the motor only from the casing with the motor operatively connected with the nearest of said shaft coupling means, a handle extending rearwardly and upwardly from said casing, and means removably connecting the lower end of the handle to the casing for manually holding and guiding the machine, said identical shaft coupling means allowing either end of the shaft to be operatively connected with the motor to vary the distance between said motor and said axle.

2. A machine according to claim I, in which said detachable coupling means include an angular gear casing, and coupling means at the opposite ends of that casing operatively connected with said motor and nearest shaft coupling means of the worm gear casing.

3. A machine according to claim 2, including a work-performing member at the end of said worm gear casing opposite to the motor, and a second angular gear casing provided at its ends with coupling means identical to those of the first-mentioned angular gear casing and operatively connecting said work-performing member with the other shaft coupling means,

of the worm gear casing.

4. A machine accor mg to claim 3, in which each of said angular gear casings contains meshing bevel gears, and the gear ratio in one of the angular casings is different from the gear ratio in the other angular casing.

5. A machine according to claim 2, including a work-performing member at the end of said worm gear casing opposite to the motor, a second angular gear casing provided at its ends with coupling means identical to those of the first-mentioned angular gear casing, a straight gear casing, and coupling means at the opposite ends thereof identical to those of said angular casings, whereby all of said casings can be operatively connected together in different arrangements between the motor and said work-performing member.

6. A machine according to claim 5, in which said worm shaft projects from both ends of said worm gear casing, each of said other casings is provided at one end with a projecting gear shaft and at the opposite end with a gear shaft socket to receive a projecting gear shaft, and said motor is provided with a shaft socket to receive a gear shaft projecting from one of said casings, whereby the positions of said casings are interchangeable.

7. A machine according to claim 1, in which said handle connecting means include vertical rings secured to said worm gear housing and handle and provided with interengaging radial teeth, and removable means normally holding said rings together to hold the handle at any desired angle to the worm gear casing.

8. A machine according to claim 1, in which said handle means include a vertical ring secured to said worm gear casing and provided on both sides with radial teeth, a vertical ring secured to the lower end of the handle and provided with radi al teeth interengaged with the teeth on one side of said casing ring, a work-performing member provided with a vertical ring having radial teeth interengaged with the teeth on the opposite side of the casing ring, and removable means normally holding said rings together to hold the handle and said work-performing member at any desired angle to the worm gear casing.

9. A machine according to claim 1, in which said worm gear casing is disposed substantially horizontally, and said detachable coupling means includes a right angle gear casing, and coupling means at the opposite ends of the angular gear casing operatively connected with said motor and nearest shaft coupling means of the worm gear casing, the motor end of the angular gear casing facing upwardly with the motor on top of it. 

1. A motor-driven agricultural machine for use with implements used in agriculture and horticulture and forestry, the machine comprising an elongated casing forming the sUpporting frame of the machine, a rotatable shaft in the casing extending lengthwise thereof and having identical shaft coupling means at opposite ends of the casing, a worm in the casing secured to said shaft near one end of the casing, a single horizontal axle journaled in the sides of the casing beside the worm and projecting laterally from the casing, ground-engaging means mounted on said axle, a worm gear secured to said axle and driven by the worm, a motor provided with an upright motor shaft, means detachably coupling the motor with one end of said worm gear casing to support the motor only from the casing with the motor operatively connected with the nearest of said shaft coupling means, a handle extending rearwardly and upwardly from said casing, and means removably connecting the lower end of the handle to the casing for manually holding and guiding the machine, said identical shaft coupling means allowing either end of the shaft to be operatively connected with the motor to vary the distance between said motor and said axle.
 2. A machine according to claim 1, in which said detachable coupling means include an angular gear casing, and coupling means at the opposite ends of that casing operatively connected with said motor and nearest shaft coupling means of the worm gear casing.
 3. A machine according to claim 2, including a work-performing member at the end of said worm gear casing opposite to the motor, and a second angular gear casing provided at its ends with coupling means identical to those of the first-mentioned angular gear casing and operatively connecting said work-performing member with the other shaft coupling means of the worm gear casing.
 4. A machine according to claim 3, in which each of said angular gear casings contains meshing bevel gears, and the gear ratio in one of the angular casings is different from the gear ratio in the other angular casing.
 5. A machine according to claim 2, including a work-performing member at the end of said worm gear casing opposite to the motor, a second angular gear casing provided at its ends with coupling means identical to those of the first-mentioned angular gear casing, a straight gear casing, and coupling means at the opposite ends thereof identical to those of said angular casings, whereby all of said casings can be operatively connected together in different arrangements between the motor and said work-performing member.
 6. A machine according to claim 5, in which said worm shaft projects from both ends of said worm gear casing, each of said other casings is provided at one end with a projecting gear shaft and at the opposite end with a gear shaft socket to receive a projecting gear shaft, and said motor is provided with a shaft socket to receive a gear shaft projecting from one of said casings, whereby the positions of said casings are interchangeable.
 7. A machine according to claim 1, in which said handle connecting means include vertical rings secured to said worm gear housing and handle and provided with interengaging radial teeth, and removable means normally holding said rings together to hold the handle at any desired angle to the worm gear casing.
 8. A machine according to claim 1, in which said handle means include a vertical ring secured to said worm gear casing and provided on both sides with radial teeth, a vertical ring secured to the lower end of the handle and provided with radial teeth interengaged with the teeth on one side of said casing ring, a work-performing member provided with a vertical ring having radial teeth interengaged with the teeth on the opposite side of the casing ring, and removable means normally holding said rings together to hold the handle and said work-performing member at any desired angle to the worm gear casing.
 9. A machine according to claim 1, in which said worm gear casing is disposed substantially horizontally, and said detachable coupling means includes a right angle gear casing, and coupling means at the opposite ends of the angular geAr casing operatively connected with said motor and nearest shaft coupling means of the worm gear casing, the motor end of the angular gear casing facing upwardly with the motor on top of it. 